GRE21 From3981-4180 Flashcards
1
Q
benediction
A
blessing
2
Q
outskirts
A
fringes; outer borders (as of a city); Ex. outskirts of Boston
3
Q
frivolous
A
lacking in seriousness; flippant; self-indulgently carefree; unworthy of serious attention; relatively unimportant; trivial
4
Q
impassable
A
not able to be traveled or crossed
5
Q
finesse
A
delicate skill; V: handle with finesse
6
Q
induct
A
place formally in office; install; admit as a member; initiate; N. induction: inducting; process of deriving general principles from particular facts
7
Q
personify
A
represent (an inanimate object) as a person; be the embodiment or perfect example of; Ex. She is evil/patience personified; N. personification
8
Q
recurrent
A
occurring again and again
9
Q
fallible
A
liable to err
10
Q
matinee(matinee)
A
dramatic or musical performance given in the afternoon
11
Q
poultice
A
soothing application applied to sore and inflamed portions of the body
12
Q
indigence
A
poverty
13
Q
battalion
A
army unit made up of four or more companies
14
Q
vying
A
contending; CF. vie
15
Q
oatmeal
A
crushed oats used for making porridge
16
Q
venison
A
meat of a deer; CF. cow: beef; CF. pig: pork, ham, bacon; CF. calf: veal; CF. sheep: mutton; CF. lamb: lamb
17
Q
amiss
A
wrong; faulty; Ex. something amiss; ADV.
18
Q
shaving
A
very thin piece, usually of wood (cut from a surface with a sharp blade)
19
Q
anarchist
A
person who seeks to overturn the established government; advocate of abolishing authority
20
Q
dominate
A
control; rule; enjoy a commanding position in; overlook from a height; ³»·Á´Ùº¸´Ù
21
Q
sow
A
plant or scatter seed
22
Q
ineffable
A
unutterable; not to be uttered; taboo; that cannot be expressed in speech; indescribable; unspeakable; inexpressible; Ex. ineffable name/joy
23
Q
rhapsody
A
excessively enthusiastic expression of feeling; musical composition of irregular form (as if made up as one plays it)
24
Q
arbitrate
A
act as judge (at the request of both sides)
25
drastic
strong; violent and severe; Ex. drastic changes/measures
26
carousal
drunken revel; V. carouse
27
d\'ebris
rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed
28
effluvium
noxious(harmful) smell
29
hallowed
blessed; consecrated; Ex. hallowed ground; V. hallow: set apart as holy
30
affidavit
written statement made under oath (for use as proof in a court of law)
31
deprecate
express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory
32
indeterminate
uncertain; not clearly fixed; indefinite
33
opus
work (esp. musical composition); Ex. magnum opus: masterpiece; CF. opera
34
somnolent
half asleep; drowsy; N. somnolence
35
ingratiate
become popular with; bring (oneself) in favor of another; Ex. ingratiate himself with the boss
36
tome
large volume; book
37
stun
make unconscious or numb as by a blow; amaze; astound
38
nova
star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then returns to its original brightness
39
genteel
well-bred; elegant; striving to convey an appearance of refinement; Ex. genteel poverty
40
seamy
sordid; base; filthy; unwholesome; Ex. seamy side of city life
41
riveting
holding one's attention; absorbing; engrossing
42
shackle
chain; fetter; confine with shackles; N.
43
besmirch
soil; defile; make dirty
44
abortive
unsuccessful; fruitless
45
egress
exit; opening for going out; act of going out; OP. ingress
46
delve
dig; search deeply; investigate
47
centrifugal
radiating; departing from the center
48
ellipsis
omission of words from a text; mark used to indicate an omission (when the meaning can be understood without them); PL. ellipses
49
innate
inborn
50
defalcate
embezzle
51
odorous
having an odor
52
reconnaissance
survey of enemy by soldiers; reconnoitering; V. reconnoiter: make a preliminary inspection of (esp. to gather military information)
53
gambol
romp; skip about; leap about playfully; frolic; N.
54
accommodate
oblige or help someone; adjust or bring into harmony; adapt; make enough space for; ADJ. accommodative; CF. accomodating: helpful and obliging
55
levitate
rise and float in the air (especially by magical means); CF. light
56
amok(amuck)
in a state of rage; Ex. run amok
57
compendium
brief, comprehensive summary; ADJ. compendious
58
pith
core or marrow; spongelike substance in the center of stems; essence; substance
59
proponent
supporter; backer; opposite of opponent
60
juncture
crisis; point in time; joining point; joint; act of joining
61
goad
urge on; drive with a goad; cause (someone) to do something by continued annoyance; Ex. They goaded him into doing it by saying he was a coward; N: sharp-pointed stick for driving cattle; stimulus; CF. annoy continually
62
toss
throw lightly; move or lift (the head) with a sudden motion; flip (a coin) to decide something
63
altercation
noisy quarrel
64
precedent
something preceding in time which may be used as an authority or guide for future action; V. precede; CF. unprecedented
65
portly
stout; corpulent
66
wreak
inflict; Ex. wreak one's vengeance on
67
scuttle
sink (a ship) by cutting holes in the hull; scrap; discard; N: small hatch in a ship's deck or hull
68
contingent
dependent on something uncertain or in the future; conditional; happening by chance; accidental; N: a group of soldiers, ships to a larger force; CF. contingency: future event that may or may not occur; possibility; Ex. prepare for every contingency
69
hilarity
boisterous mirth(merriment; laughter); ADJ. hilarious: full of laughter
70
pseudonym
pen name; fictitious name assumed by an author; ADJ. pseudonymous
71
sear
burn the surface of; char or burn; brand; parch; cause (a plant) to wither
72
comprise
include; consist of
73
drudge
do drudgery; N: person who drudges
74
muddle
confuse; mix up confusedly; N: state of confusion
75
knit
contract into wrinkles; grow together; join together closely; make (a fabric or garment) by interwining yarn or thread; Ex. knit the brow; Ex. The bones should knit together in a few weeks.
76
afterlife
life after death; later part of one's life
77
confidence
self-assurance; calm unworried feeling based on a strong belief in one's abilities; strong belief in the ability of a person or plan; trust or faith in a person or thing; something confided; secret; Ex. confidence in your ability; Ex. I'm telling you this in confidence; Ex. exchange confidences about their boyfriends; ADJ. confident
78
axiom
self-evident truth requiring no proof
79
leash
restraining rope fastened to the collar of an animal (to control it); Ex. a dog on a leash
80
flounder
struggle and thrash about; proceed clumsily or falter (as in water, mud, snow, etc.); proceed in confusion
81
discrepancy
lack of consistency or agreement as between facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions
82
avert
prevent; avoid; turn away (eyes or thought); Ex. An accident was averted by his quick thinking; Ex. She averted her eyes from the terrible sight.
83
kindle
start a fire; ignite; inspire; arouse
84
miscellaneous
made up of a variety of parts
85
recipient
receiver
86
valor
bravery; ADJ. valiant: possessing valor; brave
87
hedonist
one who believes that pleasure is the sole aim in life; CF. hedonism: practice of living one's life purely for pleasure
88
enjoin
command; order; forbid
89
idiosyncrasy
individual trait usually odd in nature; behavioral peculiarity; eccentricity; attitude, behavior, or opinion peculiar to a person; anything highly individual or eccentric; ADJ. idiosyncratic
90
melancholy
gloomy; morose; blue; N. ADJ. melancholic; CF. melancholia
91
insensible
unconscious; unresponsive; insensitive; unaware; imperceptible; Ex. insensible of his danger/to pain; Ex. insensible change; CF. not the opposite of sensible
92
layman
man who is not a cleric; man who is nonprofessional
93
pediatrician
physician specializing in children's diseases; N. pediatrics
94
consort
associate with; keep company; N: husband or wife (or a ruler)
95
riddle
pierce with holes; permeate or spread throughout; Ex. The gunman riddled the car with bullets; Ex. The whole report is riddled with errors; N. large sieve (separating earth from stone)
96
grotesque
fantastic; comically hideous; strange and unnatural (causing fear or amusement)
97
sporadic
occurring irregularly; intermittent
98
disaffected
disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty
99
placid
peaceful; calm; Ex. placid child/lake
100
litter
waste material thrown away (as bits of paper scattered untidily); V: cover untidily with scattered litter
101
crave
desire; want intensely
102
linger
loiter or dawdle; be slow in leaving; delay going; continue or persist; be slow to disappear; Ex. The smell lingered for days.
103
hatch
deck opening; lid covering a deck opening; V: emerge from an egg; produce (young) from an egg
104
pestilential(pestilent)
causing plague; tending to cause death; baneful; N. pestilence: fatal epidemic disease (esp. bubonic plague)
105
impuissance
powerlessness; feebleness
106
swathe
swath; wrap around; bandage; Ex. one's head swathed in bandages
107
epoch
period of time
108
pander
cater to (the low desires of others)
109
brindled
tawny or grayish with streaks or spots (of animals)
110
mannerism
distinctive behavioral trait; affected style in art (according to a set of styles)
111
jargon
language used by special group; technical terminology; gibberish; nonsensical or incoherent talk
112
temporal
of time; not lasting forever; limited by time; temporary; secular; worldly
113
thematic
of a theme; relating to a unifying motif or idea
114
kudos
honor; glory; acclaim or praise for exceptional achievement
115
ethos
underlying character of a culture, group, etc.; character or ideas peculiar to a specific person, group, or culture; Ex. the company ethos
116
corrode
destroy or wear away gradually by chemical action (over a long period)
117
bookish
fond of books and reading
118
fructify
bear fruit; produce fruit
119
turmoil
extreme confusion; great commotion and confusion; Ex. throw the country into turmoil
120
smudge
dirty mark with unclear edges made by rubbing; V.
121
stalemate
deadlock; situation in which further action is blocked
122
resolve
decide; settle; solve; separate; make a determined decision; N. resolution
123
awful
terrible; very bad
124
subpoena
writ(written command issued by a court) summoning a witness to appear in court; V: summon with a subpoena
125
accessible
easy to approach; obtainable
126
reprieve
postponement or cancelation of a punishment; temporary stay; V: postpone or cancel the punishment of
127
chauvinist
blindly devoted patriot; zealous adherent of a group, cause, or sex; ADJ. chauvinistic; CF. chauvinism; Nicolas Chauvin
128
mendicant
beggar; ADJ: living as a beggar
129
incentive
spur; motive; something which encourages one to greater activity
130
depredation
plundering; destruction
131
latent
present but not yet noticeable or active; dormant; hidden; N. latency; CF. potential
132
scale
climb up; ascend; remove or come off in scales; N: flake of epidermis; ascending or descending series of musical tones
133
coterie
group that meets socially; select circle; close group of people with shared interests
134
illicit
illegal
135
lament
grieve; express sorrow; N. lamentation
136
renovate
restore to good condition; renew
137
bode
foreshadow; portend
138
accede
agree
139
phoenix
symbol of immortality or rebirth; Ex. phoenix rising from its ashes
140
intoxicate
make drunk; stimulate or excite; Ex. intoxicated by all the money he might win
141
glut
overstock; fill beyond capacity (with food); fill to excess; N: oversupply
142
spate
sudden flood or rush; Ex. spate of accidents
143
retrench
cut down; cut down expenses; economize
144
precinct
division of a city for election or police purposes; precincts: space that surrounds a building; Ex. precincts of the college
145
turbulence
state of violent agitation; ADJ. turbulent: violently agitated or disturbed
146
upright
(sitting or standing) straight up; honest; moral
147
fathomless
too deep to be measured or understood; unfathomable
148
pandemonium
wild tumult(commotion); wild noisy disorder; CF. Paradise Lost
149
intelligentsia
intellectuals; members of the educated elite (often used derogatorily)
150
parlance
language; manner of speaking; idiom; Ex. in legal/common parlance
151
bizarre
fantastic; violently contrasting; noticeably odd; strikingly unconventional
152
abominable
detestable; extremely unpleasant
153
disarray
state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state; Ex. with her clothes in disarray
154
mat
not shiny; matte; having a dull finish; N: flat piece of material used as a floor covering; V.
155
impetus
moving force; momentum; force of a moving body; incentive; stimulus; impulse
156
fidelity
loyalty; accuracy
157
repulse
reject with rudeness or coldness (an offer or friendship); drive back (an enemy attack); CF. repulse $\neq$ cause repulsion
158
appurtenances
subordinate possessions; something added to a more important thing
159
gingerly
very carefully; ADJ.
160
tactile
pertaining to the organs or sense of touch
161
archipelago
group of closely located islands
162
prize
pry; move with a lever; value highly; esteem; Ex. his most prized possession; N: something captured during war-time (esp. an enemy ship)
163
comity
courtesy; civility; Ex. comity of nations
164
squash
crush; quash; suppress
165
bereavement
state of being deprived of something valuable or beloved; state of being bereaved or bereft
166
maim
mutilate; injure lastingly; disable; cripple; Ex. maimed for life
167
institutionalize
make into an institution; put or confine in an institution
168
nicety
precision; accuracy; minute distinction or difference; Ex. to a nicety: exactly; precisely; Ex. distinguish between niceties
169
acetic
vinegary
170
finished
properly made and complete; Ex. finished product/performance
171
supplicant
one who supplicates; ADJ.
172
caulk(calk)
make watertight (by blocking up cracks as in a ship)
173
mete
measure; distribute; administer; Ex. mete out justice/punishment
174
embroider
decorate with needlework; ornament (a story) with fancy or fictitious details; embellish
175
sleazy
shabby and dirty; flimsy; insubstantial; Ex. sleazy back-street hotel/fabric
176
meander
wind or turn in its course; follow a winding or turning course; move aimlessly and idly
177
haven
place of safety; refuge; harbor; Ex. tax haven
178
unerringly
infallibly; ADJ. unerring: making no mistakes
179
seclusion
isolation; solitude; V. seclude: set apart from others; isolate
180
libretto
text of an opera or oratorio; CF. book
181
incident
event; event that causes a crisis
182
resolve
determination; resolution; firmness of purpose
183
seine
seine net; net for catching fish
184
nauseate
cause to become sick; fill with disgust; fill nausea
185
liaison
contact that keeps parties in communication; communication between groups; one that maintains communication; go-between; secret love affair; V. liaise: keep a connection
186
exodus
departure (of a large number of people)
187
codicil
supplement to the body of a will; later addition to a will
188
check
stop motion; curb or restrain
189
orthography
correct spelling; CF. ortho-: straight; correct; Ex. orthodontics
190
potential
expressing possibility; latent; N: capacity for growth
191
misconduct
immoral behavior; bad management; V.
192
blatant
extremely (offensively) obvious; loudly offensive; Ex. blatant lie; N. blatancy
193
unruly
disobedient; lawless; difficult to control
194
poignancy
quality of being deeply moving; keenness of emotion; ADJ. poignant: touching; deeply moving; (of sorrow, grief, etc.) painful; keenly distressing to the mind; Ex. poignant memory/anxiety; CF. prick
195
rapacious
voracious; ravenous; taking everything one can; excessively grasping; plundering; subsisting on live prey; Ex. rapacious birds
196
rustic
pertaining to country people; unsophisticated; simple; crude; uncouth; (of furniture) rough with the bark left on; N. rural person; rustic person
197
slacken
slow up; loosen; make or become slack
198
compilation
listing of information in tabular or book form; compiling
199
maudlin
effusively sentimental
200
immure
imprison; shut up in confinement; CF. wall
